Bunker-only agency
Vessels stemming bunkers at Richards Bay appoint Maingate Shipping for the call and, where the trader also nominates us, for the delivery; one desk keeps both clocks and one account closes the stop. Attendance by our partner agent under Maingate's instruction.
Richards Bay is a deep-water port on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast built for bulk exports, and capesize and panamax bulk carriers dominate the traffic, and berth line-ups at the coal terminal are set by the terminal's own scheduling. Vessels on passage call for bunkers without loading cargo, and a bunker call is judged by one measure: how long the vessel is off passage. Maingate Shipping's bunker call agency at Richards Bay is built around that measure.
The desk is appointed by owners, managers, operators and by the bunker traders and suppliers themselves. Where the supplier and the receiving vessel both nominate Maingate, one desk coordinates both sides of the delivery and the vessel receives one account.
Bunker deliveries are where quantity disputes are born. Surveyors for the vessel's interests attend soundings and sampling, the bunker delivery note is witnessed, and any protest is recorded at the time so that the owner has the evidence if the figures are argued later.
A bunker call at Richards Bay starts with the stem: quantity, grade, supplier and the delivery mode the supplier offers. The desk files the port's notification, applies for the anchorage position or the berth, and fixes the delivery time with the supplier against the vessel's ETA and the weather forecast.
Owners still shopping for fuel are given the names of suppliers and traders serving the port; the desk does not sell fuel and does not take a margin on it.
The transfer at Richards Bay follows the port's rules for the mode: barge at berth, with anchorage deliveries case by case. Weather sets the window, and the desk moves the delivery rather than force it into a sea state the supplier will not work in.
The boarding officer is on deck for the connection and the soundings and stays until the delivery note is signed.
Surveyors appointed by the owner attend the delivery and issue their quantity report. Where the vessel's figures and the supplier's figures differ, a letter of protest is issued and recorded before the barge lets go. The desk keeps the samples' custody documentation with the delivery note.
For traders and suppliers appointing the desk, the same attendance serves their side of the delivery, with the roles set out in writing.
The desk treats a bunker call at Richards Bay as an anchorage visit with a purpose, and uses it: crew changes via Richards Bay Airport for domestic flights, spares in transit, provisions, cash and medical attention all go out by the same launch or alongside the same berth.
Every service is a line in the account with its receipt, and the final DA reconciles against the advance within the agreed days.
From anchor down to anchor up, the time is set by the quantity and the barge's pumping rate; the desk gives an estimate for each stem and keeps the vessel informed of the barge's movements.
Yes, with the roles written down so that each party knows whose instruction the desk follows for each task.
The owner's surveyor's figures are compared with the delivery note on the spot and a letter of protest is issued before the barge leaves; the desk keeps the documents for the claim.
Crew, spares, provisions, cash to master and medical attention, by the same launch or at the same berth.
One instruction, one account, one contact for the master and one for the principal.
Bunker calls sit with port agency and anchorage services on the same desk.
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Maingate Shipping Limited · Express Building, Moi Avenue, Mombasa, Kenya · ops@maingateshipping.com · +254 784 622 091